Richard Danielpour’s oratorio The Passion of Yeshua.

Naxos Classical Spotlight

Raymond Bisha introduces Richard Danielpour’s oratorio The Passion of Yeshua, a 105-minute work for large chorus, six soloists and orchestra that takes the listener back to Jesus’ final day on earth, removing as much as possible the accretions of history since that moment in an attempt to provide a fuller understanding of the connection of Jesus of Nazareth to the Jewish tradition. It does this through both the Hebrew and English languages. Danielpour’s gift for vocal writing and astonishing orchestral colour makes this a highly significant work in the enduring oratorio tradition, described as “a classic for all time” by conductor JoAnn Falletta.